PAUL DEACON suffered the horror of a life-threatening injury in his last match two months ago at Huddersfield.

Now Deacon, 26, is set for his comeback on the same ground in Sunday's preseason friendly against the Giants.

The Bradford scrum - half smashed his cheekbone, nose, eye socket and mouth palate after being flattened by Nigel Vagana in Great Britain's 38-12 win over New Zealand.

The goal-kicking ace, Super League's top scorer with 389 points last season, said: "I might have a few flashbacks but it won't make much difference.

"It's just a field with grass on and a sets of sticks at each end."

Great Britain doctor Chris Brookes spent two hours stemming the bleeding after blood vessels burst in his throat.

Deacon had to have part of his face virtually rebuilt and will have two titanium plates in place for the rest of his life.

But he bears no animosity towards ex-Warrington star Vagana, who was suspended for one match.

Deacon said: "I've seen a lot worse tackles do a lot less damage but I didn't realise what I had done at first.

"I remember walking off the field and I thought I must have broken my jaw and then I could feel all this blood going down my throat.

"It was only at half time when our coach Brian Noble came back into the dressing room and I heard the doctor tell him it could be life-threatening - that was a bit of a shock, I must admit!"

"I'm starting to look somewhere near normal and the surgeon did a great job. I don't think there is a big psychological battle. The surgeon has given me the all clear and he said the jaw is as strong as it was before.

"Sport throws up ironic things all the time and I won't be bothered about playing on the same pitch."

Deacon will return to the Galpharm Stadium again in a fortnight when Bradford face Aussie champions Wests Tigers in the World Club Challenge.

WAKEFIELD, as predicted in yesterday's Mirror Sport, have confirmed an interest in Test prop Danny Ward, sacked by Leeds this week.

CASTLEFORD coach Terry Matterson says his club still have only a "50-50 chance" of winning a battle with Wests for Cronulla centre Ryan McGoldrick.